Chapter 7 First Contact

The visitation room didn't look like a place where lives collided.

It was soft. Neutral. Carefully designed to feel harmless.

Muted gray walls. A low couch. A basket of toys arranged with deliberate friendliness, as if plastic blocks and coloring books could soften what was about to happen.

Lina stood near the door, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

Across the room, the social worker adjusted her clipboard and smiled too brightly. "Mr. Hale will be here shortly."

Lina nodded, though her stomach twisted.

The children sat on the rug.

Ethan stacked blocks with intense concentration. Noah lay on his stomach, pushing a toy car back and forth in neat, obsessive lines. Elena sat closest to Lina, her small fingers gripping the hem of Lina's sweater as if it were an anchor.

"Who's coming, Mommy?" Elena asked quietly.

Lina knelt beside her. "Someone who wants to meet you."

"Do we know him?"

"No."

Elena considered that. "Is he nice?"

Lina hesitated for a fraction of a second too long. "He's... learning."

The door opened.

Adrian Hale stepped inside.

He wasn't wearing his usual tailored suit. Today it was a dark sweater and slacks, the billionaire stripped of his armor-but the presence remained. tall, composed, Controlled.

His gaze went immediately to the children.

Then he stopped moving.

Lina saw it-the moment the files became real. The moment three living, breathing consequences sat on the floor in front of him.

Ethan looked up first. His eyes-too familiar-flicked to Adrian, then back to his blocks.

Noah stopped his car mid-motion and frowned.

Elena stared openly.

The social worker cleared her throat. "Children, this is Mr. Adrian. He's going to sit with us for a little while."

Adrian crouched slowly, keeping his distance. "Hello," he said, his voice quieter than Lina had ever heard it.

No response.

Elena tilted her head. "You're very tall."

Adrian blinked. "So I'm told."

She smiled faintly, then retreated closer to Lina.

Ethan stacked one more block, then the tower fell. He stared at the pieces without reacting.

Adrian's chest tightened.

He didn't reach for them. Didn't speak again.

Good, Lina thought grimly. Don't rush.

The social worker gestured. "You can sit, Mr. Hale."

Adrian sat on the edge of the couch, hands clasped loosely. He watched as Lina helped Ethan rebuild the tower, her movements instinctive, practiced.

"You're good with them," he said quietly.

"They're my children," Lina replied without looking at him.

Silence followed.

Noah scooted closer to the couch, studying Adrian with sharp curiosity. "You look like the man on TV."

Adrian stiffened. "Do I?"

"Yes. Mommy makes angry noises when you're on."

Lina shot Noah a warning look. "Noah."

Adrian exhaled slowly. "That's... fair."

Noah climbed onto the couch uninvited and sat just far enough away to be safe. "Are you rich?"

The social worker winced.

Adrian hesitated, then nodded. "Yes."

Noah nodded solemnly. "Do you have toys?"

Lina closed her eyes.

"Yes," Adrian said. "But I didn't bring them today."

Noah shrugged. "Okay."

Ethan finally looked up again. His gaze lingered on Adrian's face, searching. Measuring.

"You're loud inside," Ethan said suddenly.

Adrian froze. "Loud?"

Ethan tapped his own chest. "Boom-boom thoughts."

Lina felt her breath catch.

"I'm sorry," Adrian said carefully. "I'll try to be quieter."

Ethan considered that, then nodded once and returned to his blocks.

Something cracked open in Adrian's chest.

The hour passed slower than Lina expected.

Adrian didn't touch the children. Didn't push conversation. He listened. Observed. Followed Lina's lead.

When Elena brought him a crayon, he accepted it like it was glass.

"What do I draw?" he asked her.

She shrugged. "Something not scary."

He drew a house.

Simple. Small. With three windows.

Elena studied it. "It needs flowers."

He added flowers.

"And a sun."

He added a sun.

She smiled. "It's better now."

When the time ended, the social worker stood. "That's all for today."

Ethan didn't look up.

Noah waved absently.

Elena hesitated, then waved too.

Adrian stood slowly. "Thank you," he said, to Lina. To the children. To the room itself.

Outside, in the hallway, Lina stopped walking.

"You did okay," she said stiffly.

"Okay isn't enough," Adrian replied.

"It's all you get."

He nodded. "For now."

She turned to leave.

"Lina," he called.

She paused but didn't face him.

"They're incredible," he said quietly.

Her throat tightened. "I know."

Two weeks later, the visits became routine.

Still supervised. Still controlled.

The children adjusted faster than Lina expected.

Ethan tolerated Adrian's presence, occasionally offering observations that cut too close to the bone. Noah asked relentless questions. Elena warmed in careful increments.

Adrian changed.

He listened more. Spoke less. Learned their rhythms.

Lina watched him with suspicion-and something she refused to name.

One afternoon, as the children colored, the social worker stepped out briefly.

Adrian glanced at Lina. "I know you don't trust me."

"No," she said. "I don't."

He nodded. "Fair."

"You're careful," she continued. "That worries me more than recklessness."

"Why?"

"Because careful people plan exits."

Adrian met her gaze. "I'm not planning to leave."

She laughed bitterly. "You don't get to promise that."

"I'm not promising," he said. "I'm stating intention."

Before she could respond, Elena tugged Adrian's sleeve. "Can you come again?"

Adrian looked down at her. "If your mom says yes."

Elena looked at Lina with wide eyes.

Lina swallowed. "We'll see."

Elena nodded, satisfied.

That night, Lina lay awake staring at the ceiling.

She hated how normal it was becoming.

The next visit shattered that illusion.

As they arrived, a woman stood near the entrance-elegant, poised, watching.

Her gaze locked onto the children.

Then onto Lina.

Then onto Adrian.

The woman smiled.

"Well," she said softly. "So it's true."

Adrian stiffened. "Maris."

Lina's blood ran cold.

Maris Moore.

The name echoed like a warning bell.

Maris stepped closer, her eyes never leaving the children. "I wondered what happened to my appointment."

Lina pulled the children closer instinctively.

Maris tilted her head. "They're beautiful."

Adrian's voice was sharp. "You shouldn't be here."

"Oh, relax," Maris replied smoothly. "I just wanted to see the result of your mistake."

Her gaze slid to Lina. "You must be her."

Lina straightened. "And you must be the woman who walked away."

Maris smiled thinly. "Careful. You don't know the full story."

"Neither did I," Lina snapped. "But I lived with the consequences."

Maris's eyes flicked back to the children, something calculating behind them. "You know," she said lightly, "contracts can be... complicated."

Adrian stepped between them. "This conversation is over."

Maris leaned in, her voice dropping. "Not even close."

She straightened, smoothing her coat. "See you soon, Adrian."

Then she walked away.

The room felt colder.

Lina's hands shook.

"What does she want?" Lina demanded.

Adrian's face was grim. "Control."

"And the children?"

He didn't answer fast enough.

That was all Lina needed.